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Language:
English
Series:
Part 63 of Gifts to Other Users
Collections:
MCYT Recursive Exchange 2025
Stats:
Published:
2025-04-13
Words:
402
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
4
Kudos:
12
Hits:
158

like my guns dirty and hands clean

Summary:

Etho used to work with Joel. before the Family, before the Tough Guys.

but that was a long time ago.

(a Boat Boys prequel fic for "race against time (i can't stop)"!)

Notes:

helloooo<3

title from "Furious" by Ja Rule (aka a different song also from the Fast and the Furious soundtrack)

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

"Got a light?" Etho asked, sitting down next to his partner on the ledge of a rooftop.

Joel hummed and fished his lighter from one of the inside pockets of his jacket without looking at the other man, listening to the fabric rustle as Etho pulled his mask down to light his cigarette.

"Thanks." He said through a puff of smoke. "Something keeping you up tonight?"

"Not more than usual." Joel shrugged, holding out his hand until Etho passed him the cigarette to take a drag himself.

Etho snickered, leaning back to look up at the dark city sky. "You think we'll ever end up on top?" He wondered idly.

"What's this about all of a sudden?" Joel passed it back.

"Humor me." Etho nudged his arm as he took another drag.

Joel tilted his head to think. "Yeah, I guess we could. We're both pretty tough guys, aren't we? Whole lot of muscle between the two of us."

Etho grinned, a sight to behold without his usual mask. "Yeah, I guess we are. Might need a bit more brains to make our little dream team work, though."

Joel scoffed. "I'm plenty brainy. I'm great at maths."

"Yeah, but you're not great at thinking ahead before you bust into grocery store safes." Etho teased.

"That was one time! How was I supposed to know they have alarms in them?" Joel shoved his shoulder hard with one hand.

Etho chuckled, nudging back. "Like I said, we need some brains."

"Okay then. You be the brains, smart guy." Joel rolled his eyes.

"I thought I was the pretty face?" Etho joked.

"Nah, that's still me. I get to be beauty and brawns." Joel grinned smugly.

"Okay." Etho scoffed affectionately.

A comfortable silence settled between them for a while, passing the cigarette around until Joel flicked it over the ledge when it was just a stub.

"Come on, let's head back in. It's getting too cold out here." Joel said, stretching as he stood.

"You go ahead, I just wanna sit here a bit longer." Etho waved him off.

Joel stared after him for a minute before turning to leave. "Suit yourself."

Etho waited for the door to the roof to click shut, then fished out his phone. "Hey." He said once the call connected, voice hushed despite being alone now. "You still got room for one more on that job you told me about?"

Notes:

(absolutely didn't forget to toggle who this was written for the first time around-)

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